Who We Are

Who We Are

Nearly 2.4 million people of every race, religion, ethnic background and income-level call Queens home.

Indeed, the borough is regarded as the most diverse urban center in the entire world. Such a large and varied population demands a sprawling legal system; thus, a vast network of lawyers earn their salaries serving our communities. Criminal defense attorneys, real estate lawyers, non-profit public interest organizations and intellectual property specialists span the borough, interacting with thousands of clients every single day. Queens also contains 15 police precincts, eight courts and one massive jail complex generating international attention as lawmakers, activists and ordinary residents debate closing it down. Yet, despite the size and reach of the legal system here, no publication has focused exclusively on Queens legal news — until now.

In June 2018 the iconic and historic Brooklyn Daily Eagle, which covers the Brooklyn legal system every business day, expanded to launch a daily Queens edition, called simply the Queens Daily Eagle, covering the criminal justice system and the vital work of a sprawling court network. As Councilman Rory Lancman wrote in the Eagle’s first issue, “Queens residents can only demand accountability and change within our justice system if they know what is going on within our justice system.” And that is exactly the information that the Queens Daily Eagle intends to deliver. Queens has long stood at the forefront of legal debates and innovations that affect the entire region and, often, the country. For example, the Queens Misdemeanor Treatment Court, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, continues to serve as a model for addressing the opioid epidemic. The borough is certainly no monolith. Experiences, concerns and needs vary by neighborhood and demographic — evident to anyone riding the 7 Line from amid the glass skyscrapers around Court Square to the ethnic enclaves of Elmhurst. While developers spar with communities over zoning variances in Woodside, Long Island City welcomes seemingly unbridled development. And as Maspeth and Middle Village sue the city over homeless shelter placement, residents in Jackson Heights demand truly affordable housing for families displaced by gentrification.

The paper’s news coverage examines these most pressing issues — from the development boom, rezoning debate and affordable housing crisis to bail reform efforts and proposals for closing Rikers Island — through the lens of the legal system. The opinion pages will amplify the voices of the people driving the conversations and influencing decisions that affect our borough. At the same time, the Queens Daily Eagle will provide a daily tool for attorneys looking to earn their continuing education credits or network with colleagues and borough residents simply wondering how to navigate the courthouses. Rather than focus on particular neighborhoods, the Queens Daily Eagle will report on legal news across the entire borough, from Arverne to Astoria and Ridgewood to Rosedale. The Queens Daily Eagle will describe developments in the legal community, inform residents of their rights and resources and provide a platform for borough-wide voices. Ultimately, the paper will serve as a crucial guide to our borough’s legal system, a system that affects everyone who lives, works or visits Queens. Meet the Queens Daily Eagle: